The rare Boxer Rebellion D.S.O. group of four awarded to Captain Eric Charrington, R.N., decorated for gallantry with the storming party at the capture of the Taku Forts, one of only five naval D.S.O.’s for China

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (Lieut. E. Charrington. H.M.S. Philomel.); China 1900, 2 clasps, Relief of Pekin, Taku Forts (Lieut. E. Charrington, R.N. H.M.S. Alacrity.); United States of America, Military Order of the Dragon, with Pagoda top suspension brooch (Lieutenant Eric Charrington D.S.O. Royal Navy H.M.S. Alacrity No. 1239) the first with minor chips to green enamel wreath, the last with small edge bruise, otherwise extremely fine (4) £12,000-£16,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Eric Charrington was born in August 1873 and educated at Brighton and Portsmouth. He obtained four first-class certificates at College as Sub-Lieutenant and entered the Navy in 1885. He served as Lieutenant of Philomel in Zanzibar in 1896, was mentioned in despatches and witnessed the bombardment and capture of the Sultan’s palace on 27 August, by the Squadron of Rear-Admiral H. H. Rawson, C.B.. In the same ship he took part in punitive expedition commanded by Rear-Admiral Rawson, C.B., and landed from the Squadron to punish the King of Benin for the massacre of the political expedition, ending in the capture of Benin City, 18 February 1897 1897, on which occasion he commanded a 7-pounder gun and rocket tube (Medal with clasp).

He served in China as Lieutenant of Alacrity, and was with the storming party at the attack and capture of the Taku Forts, and the relief of and operations around Tientsin, Haiku, and capture of Peiyang Arsenal, June 1900. For his services at the capture of the Taku Forts he was specially mentioned in despatches for gallant conduct and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 9 November 1900). The insignia were presented at Hong Kong by the Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command on the China station (Medal with two clasps). Promoted Commander in June 1905 and retired on 19 August following. He died as a Retired Captain at Wormstall, Newbury, Berkshire, on 15 September 1927.